A 25-year-old Okada rider, Baba Issa Zakaria, has been sentenced by the Odumase Circuit Court in the Eastern Region to 10 years in prison for human trafficking.
Zakaria, a resident of Agomanya, was found guilty of luring young Nigerian women into Ghana and coercing them into prostitution.
During investigations, Zakaria was discovered to have housed the victims in Agomanya, part of the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality.
The women were forced to pay him weekly fees of GHC 150 as part of their illegal activities. Zakaria pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including sex extortion, trading in prostitution, and trafficking persons.
One of his victims, Ella Elizabeth, was also charged and admitted she had been trafficked into the jurisdiction by Zakaria. She faced fines or a year in prison for her role in the illegal trade.
The case came to light when Zakaria mobilized a gang to attack a customer of one of the victims, leading to physical assault and threats of blackmail.
The incident was reported, leading to Zakaria’s arrest and conviction.
The court imposed sentences as a deterrent to combat human trafficking and exploitation in the region.
